If the Eastern Rumelian tribute had simply been a token
of dependence, there might, from the Bulgarian point of view, have been a good deal to be said for the refusal to pay. But remember the Eastern Rumelian tribute does not go to the Sultan or to Turkey, but to the bondholders, and helps to pay the Turkish National Debt. From a financial point of view, indeed, the tribute may be described as the proportionate con- tribution to paying off the Debt of Turkey which it was agreed that Eastern Rumelia should pay when that province became autonomous. If one of the provinces of the Austrian Empire were to become autonomous to-morrow, and in fact a separate community, that province would be expected to take over a proportionate share of the Austrian Debt, or else to pay an annual contribution representing her share of the obligations which existed when the countries had a common purse. To repudiate the Eastern Rumelian contribution to the payment of the interest on the Ottoman Debt is an act of financial bad faith which it is impossible for Europe to tolerate. We say this as friends of Bulgaria, and as sympathisers with her in her desire for complete independence, even though we think that Bulgaria has taken her action and asserted her national rights with a very ill grace, both as regards time and manner.
